The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1887-04-06
A COUNTRY DRUG STORE.
HOW THE YOUNG CLERK wHMEs
AWAY THE TIME.


the store for more than an hour. The
drug clerk feels lonesome. He gazes
pensively out at the deserted village
street, and muses. upon the vanity of all
things here below. An open book lies
"Daniel Deronda." Somebody has ad-
vised the drug clerk to read it, and he
has been trying to do so. But he don't
like it. He is disappointed, for he be-
gan it under the impression that it was a
detective story. It makes him sleepy.
The drug clerk is a thing of beauty,
and is calculated to be JOY forever. He
wears check suit, blue scarf with a
large pin representing mortar and pes
tie (suggestive of his devotion to bust
ness), and very high collar. His nat
ural attractions are further enhanced by
a large amethyst ring upon the little fin
ger of his right hand, and blonde bang,
which long and careful training has re-
duced to a state of complete subjection.
But seel the expression of gloom upon
his features gives place to a sunny smile.
He sees a maiden coming up the village
street, and he knows that the chances are
very large that she will not be able to get
past the door. He pulls down his cuffs,
and assumes what he believes to be an
attitude of unstudied grace. The door
opens, she enters and the following dia-
lOgue ensues:
She-'All alone, Cy9'
He--tWhy good afternoon, Addie.
Yes, things are rather quiet Hain't
seen you for an age"
She-''You saw me at church last Sum
day."
He with killing glance -"well,
three days away from you seem an age. :"
She ''Cy Whitaker, you're getting
worse and worsel"
He-'I know lam. Guess you'll have
to undertake my cure. HeyP' (Brief In
ter1nission for giggling).
She-'What are you reading9" 'Dan-
iel Deronda." ''Do you like it,"
He (guardedly)-'Do youf"
She-'T think it's perfectly splendid
Dom t youf'
He promptly)-"Perfectly magnii-
cent! Going to the Methodist tea party
tomorrow nightl'
She with scorn)-''Me2 No, sir; !
don't mix with that set"
| He-"Kinder severe, amt you, Addiei
Some nice folks down to the Methodist
! Church"
She-"Oh, yes, s'pose there are-the
Griswold girls, for instance. heard ii
said yesterday that the Griswolds must
be a mighty unhealthy family-judging
from the number of times week those
girls visit this store"
He Slightly hystericaD D-"He hel he !
Now, that amuses me. Who said it?"
Shell shan't tell you"
He-"Yes, do"
She-'I won't"
He-"Wel, know who it was; it was
that Higgins girl. J"
Perhaps it was, and perhaps it
wasn't"
He ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS amt the first
time that that girl has tried to make
trouble between you and me. But she
can't influence me. And as for the Girls
void girls, you can Judge how much
care for them, when l tell you that,
though they were round here this morn
ing urging me to go to the tea-party,
what you have said has decided me not to
attend it," Assumes an expression of
tenderness).
She-'I am sure it is a matter of in
difference to me whether you go or not. I"
He ignoring the remark)-'I think l
shall take in the concert at the Presbyte-
rian Church-that is if can get any one
to go with me. -
She(unbending slightly you seem to
be in such demand that there ought not
TO be any difficulty about that. "
He-''Well, I'm a little particular about
my company. But if you would accom-
pany me
she-"Oh, Cyl Fanny Berry will be
there; and what would she sayl She'd be
just wildw
He with dignity)-''Afiss Berry's opin-
ions are matter Of perfect Indifference
TO me"
she-"Well, I'll go, Cy, and III wear
my plum-cOlored silk; and YOU be sure 70
call for me very early, and-Oh, my good
ness ~
He-''Why, what's the matter, Adder
She-(in great agitation 81 forgot all
about it Grandma has got one Of her
fits-a dreadful one, this time-and ma
sent me round here TO get the old per-
scription put up produces bOttle) and /
forgot all about il, and poor grandma
may be dead by this time. Do hurry ana
get the stuff ready, Cy."
The young man prepares the prescrip-
tion in about thirty seconds, and hurries
his visitor off feigning great solicitude
for the neglected invalid And as Ad-
die disappears round the corner, he muir
murs:
Just in time In another minute Su-
sic Griswold would have been here
Then he wipes his brow with his silk
handkerchief, and adOrns his features in
one Of his most fascinating smiles, as he
turns TO welcome Susie Griswold who
enters and greets the conqueror Of all
hearts with an ill-assumed air of indiffer-
ence.
So runs the world away. - Tid- Bits.
Thirty-three years ago the total wheat
product Of Victoria, then called Aus
tralia Felix, was 49s, 704t Bushels The
past seasons crop aggregated IL. 600 600